Envirobytes - An Environmental Newsletter

EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending August 1, 2008

WEBCAST PROMOTES WATERSENSE PROGRAM TO PUBLIC

EPA used its website to broadcast an EPA WaterSense home certification program on July 23 to explain how the program saves water, conserves energy, and protects the environment by encouraging consumers to buy quality, water-efficient WaterSense labeled products listed at its WaterSense Web site. WaterSense promotes environmental conservation through its labeled products, and encourages businesses and organizations to partner with WaterSense to protect the environment. For more information on WaterSense, go to www.epa.gov/WaterSense

DELAWARE ESTUARY REPORT NOW AVAILABLE

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary has released its “State of the Estuary Report” (PDF file) in collaboration with EPA, the Delaware River Basin Commission, other agencies, universities, and its 21-member Science and Technical Advisory Committee. The 36-page report assesses the environmental status and trends of select natural resources in the Delaware Estuary’s watershed, pinpoints what resources need attention, how to improve monitoring capabilities, and how to prepare for new challenges like climate change. To learn more about the report, go to www.DelawareEstuary.org

CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE GRANTS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE LOCAL WATERWAYS

The Chesapeake Bay Program and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded more than $2.1 million in Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants to 34 Chesapeake Bay area organizations to protect 3,400 acres of land, restore approximately 15 miles of streams and plant more than 160 acres of marsh and wetland grasses. The grants were announced at Tyler Elementary School in Washington, D.C., which received a $50,000 grant for environmental education, and to replace asphalt with grass, plants and trees to mitigate stormwater runoff. For details, go to http://www.chesapeakebay.net/smallwatershedgrants.aspx

TWO REGIONAL PROJECTS CHOSEN AS BROWNFIELD SUSTAINABILITY PILOTS

EPA selected two regional brownfield sites as Brownfield Sustainability Pilot projects that, along with other national choices, will achieve a greener, more sustainable revitalization, and stand as models for reuse. EPA financial and technical assistance will help Allentown, Pa. redevelop a 26-acre brownfield project along the Lehigh River into a mixed-use development for residential, commercial, and retail uses, including park space, walking trails, a marina, and an amphitheater. Lynchburg, Va. will create a public park on the former Allen Morrison Superfund removal site. For information on the brownfield sustainability pilot, and winners, go to http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/index.htm

EPA PRESENTS A 'FACT' LADEN PRESENTATION

EPA participated in a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Borrowers' Conference in Delaware to present its web based Internet financing analysis tool: FACT (Financing Alternatives Comparison Tool). EPA's presentation showed how municipalities and other interest parties can use FACT to identify the most cost-effective options available to finance public drinking water infrastructure improvements. To install FACT, go to http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/fact.htm
To learn more about how CWSRF helps fund water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, nonpoint source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management, go to http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/index.htm

EPA MID-ATLANTIC REGION FEATURES PODCAST SERIES TO A LISTENING AUDIENCE

The currently-launched EPA mid-Atlantic region's series of audio podcasts incorporating environmental news and feature stories as well as helpful consumer tips to a listening audience is now featuring a podcast on clean beaches. The "Environment Matters" podcasts will be presented regularly on the region's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/region3/multimedia/ and are available as an RSS feed for automated distribution.

SUMMER 2008 LAND REVITALIZATION UPDATE QUARTERLY E-NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE

Summer highlights include: Solar Energy Park planned for a Philadelphia brownfield site; Using Clean Water and Brownfields funds to cleanup the Bristol waterfront; Measuring health impacts from multiple brownfield sites in the Kanawha Valley; Abandoned quarries get a new lease on life; Transforming Philadelphia's tire and scrap yards and much more. The Region Update is e-mailed to more than 1,000 stakeholders interested in the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties in the Mid-Atlantic Region. To see the newsletter and previous editions, please visit EPA Region 3's Land Revitalization website at: http://www.epa.gov/region03/revitalization

GRANT HELPS COMPLETE GREAT RIVERS PROJECT IN PENNSYLVANIA

EPA awarded the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection a more than $200,000 grant to complete Great River EMAP (environmental monitoring and assessment program) assessments on 64 Allegheny and Monongahela River sites in Pennsylvania. The work will provide an in-depth baseline biological and water quality data assessment for the rivers, and benefit on-going projects including the Sand & Gravel EIS and Monongahela River Basin Mine Pool. The Region 3 Freshwater Biology Team will help by performing a project audit and the EPA dive team by performing a freshwater mussel survey. For more information on EMAP, go to http://www.epa.gov/emap/index.html

WEB SITE HELPS CHILDREN CHOOSE HEALTHY FISH MEALS TO EAT

EPA has launched an informative new website to help children and their parents identify and choose fish that are low in mercury and other toxin levels. Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet, but due to polluted water, may contain toxins. The website portrays information in story form that includes interactive games geared for children ages 8-12 to help them recognize common fish species and how to use fish advisory information to learn about the toxin levels inherent in certain fish species. The site can be viewed at www.epa.gov/fishadvisories/kids For more information on fish advisories, go to http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/advice/

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND BOATERS COMBAT GREAT LAKES INVASIVE SPECIES

From July 29-31, EPA representatives, members of local, state and federal government agencies and community groups tested their readiness to respond to the threat of aquatic invaders in the Great Lakes in a three-day exercise in Presque Isle Bay in Lake Erie off Erie County, Pa., hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. More than 180 nonnative aquatic species, such as the zebra mussel and the round goby, that can cause ecological and economic harm have been documented in the Great Lakes. By working together, agencies can more readily respond to threats to native species and the nation’s water bodies. For information about invasive species in the Great Lakes, go to http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/invasive/index.html

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